The mission of Waynesboro Studio Art Club — to enhance the art arena in the area for artists and those who appreciate art — has received the support of the Lenfest Foundation.

A one-time gift of $5,000 will be used for two annual events, the Clothesline Art Exhibit for adult and high school student artists, as well as a week-long art workshop for children.

Mercersburg connection

Local artist Virginia Hair secured the donation by writing a letter to H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, who established the foundation with his wife, Marguerite. The Lenfests have made donations for buildings and programs at Mercersburg Academy and Wilson College, schools Gerry and Marguerite, respectively, attended. The foundation also provides scholarships for local and other students to attend both private high schools and colleges.

“Recently there was a very nice article in our local newspaper (The Record Herald) about the great work of your foundation,” wrote Hair. “The article took me back in time to when I worked in the alumni office at Mercersburg Academy ... while you were a Mercersburg boy.”

The letter from Hair said she is very active in the in the arts and serves on the board of the studio art club that was founded 64 years ago.

“We have 70 members, which is a very large number from a small community,” noted Hair, who has studied art since 1972, including in England for the past 20 years, and has paintings throughout the United States and in Europe.

She also told Lenfest about the weeklong art classes for adults that the club sponsors, as well as the Clothesline Art Exhibit (celebrating its 62nd year in 2013) and kids camp for children ages 8 to 12.

“We encourage high school students to participate in our art shows,” according to Hair. “Many of them have joined the club and become active.”

Hair and the late Pauline Maxwell of Waynesboro organized the classes for adults 30 years ago. They feature instructors from Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore and are held two or three times a year at area farms and in Evangelical Lutheran Church.

“We always ask local businesses for donations. We have seen the contributions drop off as local businesses suffer the consequences of the economic downturn,” said Hair in her request to Lenfest.

“I was just ecstatic when I opened the letter. We are very grateful for his generous donation. It is the largest we have ever received,” she added.

The club also credits “the help of many caring people in our community” with the success of the annual art show, according to a request for donations that prospective sponsors received this year. Without it, the non-profit organization would not be able to host “this wonderful display of local and regional artistic talent.”